Internal combustion engines with rotary pistons

ABSTRACT

A rotary internal combustion engine is provided with a plurality of cylindrical pistons which move in rolling contact around a circular hub in a combustion chamber which has parallel sidewalls and an outer wall of generally elliptical configuration, with floating cylindrical rollers to seal the varying space between the pistons and the outer wall.

United States Patent La Forge [151 3,641,985 1451 "Feb. 15,1972

54] INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES WITH ROTARY PISTONS [72] Inventor: David H. La Forge, RR. 1, Box 648, Makawao, Hawaii 96768 [22] Filed: July 7,1970

[21] Appl.No.: 52,830

[52] US. Cl. ..l23/8.09, 418/227 [51] Int. Cl. ..F0lc l/02, FOlc 19/04, F02b 53/10 [58] Field of Search ..418/225, 227, 239, I80;

[56] References (Iited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,213,801 10/1965 Venygr .......4'18/225 x 2,852,007 9/1958 Bancroft ..l-23/8.09X

1,145 ,627 7/1915 Stradovsky l 23/ 8.05

1,482,627 2/1924 Bullington' ..123/s.0s 1,427,692 8/l922 Mahon ..1j23/8.0s FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 526,730 9/1940 Great Britain ..41s/'22s '442,20l 2/1930 Germany ..4l8/225 Primary Examiner-Mark M. Newman Attorney'Christen & Sabol [57] f ABSTRACT A rotary internal combustion engine is provided with a plurality of cylindrical pistons which move in rolling contact around a circular hub in a combustion chamber which has parallel sidewalls and an outer wall of generally elliptical configuration, with floating cylindrical rollers to seal the varying space between the pistons and the outer wall.

7 Claims, 4 Figures INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES WITH ROTARY PISTONS This invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to an engine having rotary, instead of reciprocating, pistons, in which a series of floating cylindrical rollers form, with respective cylindrical pistons, a series of rotating expandable chambers for utilizing combustion gases.

Current efforts in the field of rotary engines appear to depend upon the interaction of complex shapes which are difficult to manufacture. These complex shapes also introduce difficult problems relating to the maintenance of precise clearances between moving parts which must seal against gas leakage between them.

At low speed the leakage is more likely since there must be sufficient clearance of those speeds so that the radial expansion due to' centrifugal force at higher speeds will not cause binding, or scraping, of the moving parts.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to arrange a series of cylindrical pistons in rolling contact with the inner wall of a combustion chamber which has varying volume as a result of varying radial dimensions over its angular length; with corresponding floating cylindrical rollers cooperating with the respective cylindrical pistons; the rollers maintaining rolling contact with the pistons and the outerwall of the chamber to effectively utilize the force of expanding gases in the chamber.

' Other advantages of this arrangement are, that it is compatible with the high temperatures and poor lubrication inherent in internal combustion engines and yet there are no pronounced changes in direction to cause inertia losses.

In addition, no expensive gears are needed to maintain proper mesh between operating parts, and thus there is no chance for catastrophic jamming resulting from worn gears.

Dueto the fact that the outer wall of the inner chamber is generally elliptical, the engine represents a design of utmost simplicity.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent after reading the following specification in connection with the attached drawings.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of internal combustion engine constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention, with a sidewall removed;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section similar to that of FIG. 2, but showing a modified form of rotor;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of another modification of the invention;

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an engine having a housing which may comprise a single casting and may be machined from a block to form an internal chamber, indicated generally by numeral 11, the inner wall of which is defined by central hub portion 12 having a cylindrical outer surface 13, the outer wall 14 of the chamber being generally oval in cross section and defined by a generatrix which follows an arcuate path spaced from the inner wall 13, but parallel thereto. An inlet port 15, and exhaust port 16 are provided in the chamber 11 generally disposed opposite to each other at the extremities of the oval which are of enlarged cross section, the chamber itself being completed by parallel spaced sidewalls 17 and 18 disposed at right angles to the axis of revolution of the cylindrical wall 13. Sidewall 18 is formed on one side of a removable cover plate 19 which is secured to the block 10 by studs (not shown).

Extending through the block 10 is a bore 20 for a shaft 21 to ,turn on an axis concentric with that of the inner cylindrical wall 13 which bore may contain a series of antifriction bearings 22, secured in place by retainers 23. A radially extending spider 24 is rigidly secured to one end of the shaft and is provided with a series of equidistantly spaced spokes, or arms, 25 of equal length, and the cover plate 19 is provided with a circular recess 26 which closely encircles the outer faces and ends of the arms in sealing relation thereto. At the extremities of each of the arms there are secured a series of shafts 27 which extend from one side of the spider into the chamber in parallel relation to each other and the main shaft 21, each of these shafts being arranged to support identical pistons 28 having cylindrical surfaces 29 for continuous rolling contact with wall 13 and flat end walls 30 and 31; end wall 30 having been arranged for sliding contact in sealing engagement with sidewall 17 of the chamber, while end 31 is designed to be in sliding sealing engagement with the inside face of spider 24 and the offset inner flat surface 32 of the cover plate 19. While the shaft 21 is shown as terminating at one end adjacent to cover 19, it could extend through exteriorly thereof through a suitable bearing provided therein.

Between each of the pistons 28 there is provided a freefloating sealing roller 33, the dimensions of which is substantially the same as those of the pistons, so that the cylindrical surface of each roller forms a seal between the arcuate outer wall of the chamber 11 and one or the other of the adjacent pistons, the respective end walls 34 of each roller being in sliding sealing engagement of the sidewalls l7 and 18. 1

An ignition device, such as the spark plug 35, is positioned adjacent the area in the chamber at which maximum compression of explosive gases takes place.

In operation, the assembly connected with driving shaft 21 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed inFlG. l and, as a result, a suitable mixture of air and vaporized fuel will be drawn into the upper right-hand quadrant of chamber 11 through the inlet 15, as a result of the pressure differential created by the movement of the pistons 28 and rollers 33 moving through that portion of the chamber. However, as these elements move towards the top of the chamber, the converging of the outer wall 14 towards the' inner wall 13 gradually reduces the volume of the free space not occupied by a roller and the two adjacent pistons as compared to the volume of free space adjacent the inlet. Suitable timing mechanisms (not shown) may be employed to energize thespark plug 35 in timed relation to the approach of pocket of explosive gas trapped under increased pressure betweenthe walls of the chamber, an-approaching piston and sealing roller so that as the exploded gases expand they act on the pistons and rollers moving through the upper left quadrant of the chamber to urge the spider 24 and shaft 21 continually in the counterclockwise direction untilexpelled through the exhaust outlet 16.

Still further, exhaust of gases may also take place in the lower left quadrant, where the outer wall is centrally recessed, as at 36, to permit gases in the chamber to exit around the cylindrical surfaces of the rollers moving through that portion of the quadrant. During movement of the pistons and rollers in the lower right-hand quadrant, the divergence of the outer wall which progressively increases the free volume of space between adjacent pistons tends to compensate for the approach of the pistons toward the inlet. Obviously, this cycle of operation will be continuously repeated, so long as an explosive mixture is supplied to the inlet and the spark plug is interv mittenly energized in timed relationship to the movement of the pistons.

In the form of engine shown in FIG. 3 there is more balanced distribution of forces on the spider which, in this case is identified by numeral 24' and is connected to shaft 21' in a manner similar to the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2. The shape of the chamber 11' is also similar in vertical cross section, but it may be substantially enlarged in width by using a double row of pistons 28 arranged in aligned pairs on piston shafts 27' which extend outwardly fromopposite sides of the mum: (t

required for each pair of pistons because they will be twice the length of each piston and extend across the entire width of the chamber 1 1 In FIG. 4 there is shown another modification of the invention which can utilize either the single row piston arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the double row arrangement of FIG. 3, but which provides for double expansion of the exhaust gases as opposed to a single expansion employed by the previously described modifications.

In this form of the invention the housing 42 is provided with an internal chamber defined by a central cylindrical hub 43 and a series of arcuate walls spaced outwardly therefrom, such as the walls 44 and 45 which converge toward the hub at the point where the ignition device 46 is located and diverge away from the hub respectively in the direction of the inlet port 47 and the primary exhaust outlet 48. From the primary outlet the arcuate wall 49 extends to a secondary exhaust outlet 50, this latter arcuate wall converging towards the hub slightly for the first portion of its length and then diverging from the hub as it approaches the secondary exhaust from a location where an interior duct 56 connects this area with the area where the ignition device 46 is located. From the secondary exhaust 50 a final arcuate wall 51 extends to the inlet port 47. A spider 52 is mounted on a shaft 53, supported on bearings (not shown) in the housing 42 in a manner similar to the previous embodiment, and the spider, in turn supports a series of cylindrical pistons 54 for rolling contact with the surface of the hub 43 and a series of free floating cylindrical rollers 55 which roll on the arcuate walls 44, 45, 49 and 51 of the chamber. As in the previous modification, the pistons may be disposed only'on one side of the spider, or they may be arranged in aligned pairs disposed one on each side of the spider.

In this type of engine, the combination gases are drawn in from the inlet 47 and compressed by the convergent wall 44 until exploded by the ignition device 46, at which point part of the force is directed on the piston and roller combination moving toward the primary exhaust 48. However, a portion of the exploding gases will also be directed through the duct 56 to the piston and roller combination moving toward the secon- 1 dary exhaust 50 and, since the wall 49 is diverging in that direction the force of the expanding gases there will be added to the force generated by the gases leaving at the primary exhaust 48.

Other modifications and improvements may be made by those skilled in the art which would come within the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In internal combustion engines, the combination including a housing provided with inlet means for combustants and outlet means spaced from said inlet means for products of combustion, chamber means in said housing in communication with said inlet means and outlet means, one wall of said chamber means being defined by a cylindrical surface, second and third walls of the chamber means being defined by parallel spaced flat planes normal to the surface thereof, a fourth wall of the chamber means being defined by an arcuate surface spaced outwardly from the cylindrical surface intersecting the second and third walls, and having a generatrix parallel to the axis of the cylindrical surface, said chamber means having a minimum cross section at a point between said inlet and outlet means, a plurality of cylindrical piston means and support means for positioning said piston means for movement through said chamber means in substantially rolling contact with said one wall and peripherally spaced one from another, said support means including shaft means rotatably mounted concentrically with respect to the axis of said one wall, spider means fixedly secured to said shaft means, at least a portion thereof extending radially beyond said one wall and including means rotatably drivingly connecting each of said piston means with said spider means about axes which are fixed with respect to the spider means, the diameter of said cylindrical piston means being substantially equal to the distance between said first and fourth walls at said point of minimum cross sectron, and cylindrical floating roller seal means disposed In said chamber means for rolling contact between each of said piston means and the fourth wall.

2. In internal combustion engines as defined in claim 1, wherein said chamber means includes at least two separate passage means in communication with said inlet and outlet means, said one wall of the chamber means extending over an arc of 360.

3. In internal combustion engines as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said passage means has a minimum cross-sectional area disposed at apoint'between said inlet and outlet means. v

4. In internal combustion engines as defined in claim 2, wherein said housing -is provided with a plurality of outlet means in communication with said chamber means at points spaced from the inlet means and spaced from each other.

5. In internal combustion engines as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing includes fuel injection means for introducing fuel into said chamber means in the area adjacent said point of minimum cross section and said inlet means is in communication with a source of air.

6. In internal combustion engines as defined in claim 1, wherein said inlet means is in communication with a source of an explosive gaseous mixture including air and atomized fuel, and said housing includes ignition means in communication with the chamber means in the area adjacent said point of minimum cross section.

7. In internal combustion engines, the combination including a housing provided with inlet means in communication with a source of an explosive gaseous mixture including air and atomized fuel and a plurality of outlet means successively spaced from said inlet means for products of combustion, chamber means in said housing in communication with said inlet means and outlet means, one wall of said chamber means being defined by a cylindrical surface, second and third walls of the chamber means being defined by parallel spaced flat planes intersecting said one wall normal to the surface thereof, a fourth wall of the chamber means being defined by an arcuate surface spaced outwardly from the cylindrical surface intersecting the second and third walls, and having a generatrix parallel to the axis of the cylindrical surface, said chamber means having a minimum cross section at a point between said inlet and outlet means, passage means for establishing communication directly between said area adjacent the point of minimum cross section and'a point between a first outlet means and a succeeding outlet means, ignition means in communication with the chamber means in the area adjacent said point of minimum cross section, a plurality of cylindrical piston means and support means for positioning said piston means for movement through said chamber means in substantially rolling contact with said one wall and peripherally spaced one from another, said support means including shaft means rotatably mounted concentrically with respect to the axis of said one wall and means drivingly connecting said piston means and shaft means, the diameter of said cylindrical piston means being substantially equal to the distance between said first and fourth walls at said point of minimum cross section, and cylindrical floating roller seal means disposed in said chamber means for rolling contact between each of said piston means and the fourth wall.

Inlnnn 

1. In internal combustIon engines, the combination including a housing provided with inlet means for combustants and outlet means spaced from said inlet means for products of combustion, chamber means in said housing in communication with said inlet means and outlet means, one wall of said chamber means being defined by a cylindrical surface, second and third walls of the chamber means being defined by parallel spaced flat planes normal to the surface thereof, a fourth wall of the chamber means being defined by an arcuate surface spaced outwardly from the cylindrical surface intersecting the second and third walls, and having a generatrix parallel to the axis of the cylindrical surface, said chamber means having a minimum cross section at a point between said inlet and outlet means, a plurality of cylindrical piston means and support means for positioning said piston means for movement through said chamber means in substantially rolling contact with said one wall and peripherally spaced one from another, said support means including shaft means rotatably mounted concentrically with respect to the axis of said one wall, spider means fixedly secured to said shaft means, at least a portion thereof extending radially beyond said one wall and including means rotatably drivingly connecting each of said piston means with said spider means about axes which are fixed with respect to the spider means, the diameter of said cylindrical piston means being substantially equal to the distance between said first and fourth walls at said point of minimum cross section, and cylindrical floating roller seal means disposed in said chamber means for rolling contact between each of said piston means and the fourth wall.
 2. In internal combustion engines as defined in claim 1, wherein said chamber means includes at least two separate passage means in communication with said inlet and outlet means, said one wall of the chamber means extending over an arc of 360*.
 3. In internal combustion engines as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said passage means has a minimum cross-sectional area disposed at a point between said inlet and outlet means.
 4. In internal combustion engines as defined in claim 2, wherein said housing is provided with a plurality of outlet means in communication with said chamber means at points spaced from the inlet means and spaced from each other.
 5. In internal combustion engines as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing includes fuel injection means for introducing fuel into said chamber means in the area adjacent said point of minimum cross section and said inlet means is in communication with a source of air.
 6. In internal combustion engines as defined in claim 1, wherein said inlet means is in communication with a source of an explosive gaseous mixture including air and atomized fuel, and said housing includes ignition means in communication with the chamber means in the area adjacent said point of minimum cross section.
 7. In internal combustion engines, the combination including a housing provided with inlet means in communication with a source of an explosive gaseous mixture including air and atomized fuel and a plurality of outlet means successively spaced from said inlet means for products of combustion, chamber means in said housing in communication with said inlet means and outlet means, one wall of said chamber means being defined by a cylindrical surface, second and third walls of the chamber means being defined by parallel spaced flat planes intersecting said one wall normal to the surface thereof, a fourth wall of the chamber means being defined by an arcuate surface spaced outwardly from the cylindrical surface intersecting the second and third walls, and having a generatrix parallel to the axis of the cylindrical surface, said chamber means having a minimum cross section at a point between said inlet and outlet means, passage means for establishing communication directly between said area adjacent the point of minimum cross section and a point between a firsT outlet means and a succeeding outlet means, ignition means in communication with the chamber means in the area adjacent said point of minimum cross section, a plurality of cylindrical piston means and support means for positioning said piston means for movement through said chamber means in substantially rolling contact with said one wall and peripherally spaced one from another, said support means including shaft means rotatably mounted concentrically with respect to the axis of said one wall and means drivingly connecting said piston means and shaft means, the diameter of said cylindrical piston means being substantially equal to the distance between said first and fourth walls at said point of minimum cross section, and cylindrical floating roller seal means disposed in said chamber means for rolling contact between each of said piston means and the fourth wall. 